g6 The Scottish Naturalist. 



the ice had melted the Carse had been occupied with a large lake. In Glen- 

 artney the Old Red Sandstone rocks are well seen, standing almost on end. 

 Nothing noteworthy was observed by the zoologists in their Speciality ; but a 

 goodly number of flowering plants of interest were met with. Among these 

 we may note Sambucus Ebulus, radiant plants of Centaures nigra, Agrimonia 

 odorata and Lactuca muralis. 



On September 2nd, to the Lochs near Blairgowrie. The chief object of this 

 trip was to work out the flora of Lochs Cluny, Marlee, the White Loch, &c. 

 The results were of great interest, though the day was hardly so fine as might 

 have been desired. Among the most rare or local plants gathered were Reseda 

 lutea, Cardans nutans, and Geranium columbinum ; in Loch Cluny grew 

 Potatnogeton borealis, P. Zizii, and a variety of P. pusillus ; in Loch Marlee 

 several species of Potamogeton were found (Pert/zensis Sturrock, lucens, with 

 its var. acuminatus, rufescens, Sec), along with Naias Jiexilis, Elatine luxan- 

 dra, &c. In the Lunan Burn other Potamogetons were added to the above 

 (see Mr. Sturrock 's paper in the July number of the "Scot. Nat."). 



In Fingask Loch Ranunculus Confervoides was obtained ; as was also Naias 

 Jlexilis. In the White Loch Potamogeton pseudo-nitens was got hold of. In 

 addition to the plants some attention was also directed to the water-molluscs : 

 and some insects were noticed, as was also the green Spongilla lacustris. 



ON THE OOCUEKENCJE Of MONOECIOUS PLANTS OP 

 MERCUKIALIS PERENNIS. 



As this species is very generally dioecious, so much so that it is stated expressly 

 to be so in almost all "Floras," I was a good deal interested in June of 

 this year to find plants showing monoecious arrangements of two different 

 kinds. Both grew on a wooded bank beside the river Don, not far from 

 Aberdeen, amidst a profusion of the ordinary dioecious form. Of the abnormal 

 forms the first plant was possessed of several aerial stems arising from a common 

 rhizome. Of these stems two bore exclusively female inflorescences of the usual 

 appearance, while there were four stems similarly exclusively male. The other 

 plants were two in number ; at least, I found two stems a good many yards 

 apart, and evidently belonging to distinct rhizomes, each of which bore several 

 inflorescences. In several of the inflorescences male and female flowers were 

 intermixed, though not quite side by side. In both forms the flowers seemed 

 sexually mature. 



In the Botanisckes Centralblatt, 1SS3, Vol. XV. p. 29, Dr. Fr, Thomas 

 mentions finding at Ohrdruf six examples like my second form. 



J. W. H. Trail. 



To Correspondents. — Communications, either longer articles or notes on 

 all branches of the Botany, Zoology, and Geology of Scotland, or bearing upon 

 these sciences, are solicited. Contributors will oblige by sending their com- 

 munications clearly written on one side of the paper only, to the Editor, Pro- 

 fessor Trail, M.D., Kent Cottage, King Street Road, Aberdeen, not later than 

 the beginning of the month preceding the issue of the number in which the 

 writer wishes it to appear. If unused MS. is desired in any case to be returned, 

 the writer will oblige by stating the wish when the MS. is sent to the Editor, 

 who will not hold himself responsible for MS. in any case. The Authors alone 

 are responsible for the contents of their papers. 



Books Received.— The Journal of Conchology, July, 1SS3 ;■ the Naturalist, 

 August'and September, 1883 ; the Canadian Entomologists, June, 1SS3 ; the 

 Zoologist, August and September, 1883 ; the Entomologist, September, 

 1883 ; Grevillea, September, 1883 ; Transactions of the Geological Society of 

 Glasgow, Vol. VII., Bart I., 1SS3. 



